2026 Bracketology

[Powellfan]

Perhaps because they boat raced these teams. I like their schedule as they build chemistry. Their youngins are gaining some good experience and doing very well. Colsey is as advertised. I look forward to the next part of their schedule where it gets tough.

Score differential doesn't matter.

 

[durhamcuse]

Score differential doesn't matter.

I know. I was only mentioning this because they look the part. I've seen many Duke teams over the years, and this is another good one.

 

[DomeHolmes]

1) because they're undefeated.
2) because it's march 18.

with a .25 for their own record, their opponents' and opp' opp' record combined adds to an average of .565. and that includes a scrubbing of the loss to duke in that opponent's own record (it's not included), but a tacking on of duke's record (100%) on the opp' opp' record. and because the game # is so small, it has outsized impact on both. it will dilute as more games are played by those teams (against weak conference opponents).
that's why rpi at this point in the year is meaningless.

To add a little more context to Dukes ranking, Saint Joe’s is #11. Everybody else is between 23 and 41 in RPI. So there actually aren’t any terrible teams that drag them down. The reason all those teams are pretty good in the RPI is because those mostly average teams have played a tough schedule. So their cumulative opponent’s record is pretty good, so Duke’s opponent’s opponent’s record is very good, I believe #6.

That opponents opponents stat is somewhat of a crap shoot that Duke benefits from. So tied for #1 in winning % plus #6 in opponents opponents record, boosts their opponents record resume which looks unimpressive. If they go 2/2 ACC and one win is UVA, plus beat Denver, they will be in but maybe not a seed.